Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101886

Joyce Morris, PhD, Tobacco Use Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE 10th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299, (405) 271-3619, JoyceMo@health.state.ok.us

As recognized across the nation by state attorney generals, advocacy organizations and researchers, tobacco companies are strongly marketing new flavored cigarettes and cigars. Although many persons have or are looking at the marketing of these products, there is no current information on whether youth are actually smoking them. As part of the 2002 Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey (OYTS), students were asked whether the cigarettes or cigars they smoked were flavored. Because there were a significant proportion of students who smoke flavored cigarettes or cigars at least occasionally, the 2005 OYTS currently being fielded also asks these questions. This study looks at the characteristics of the 2002 students who stated their cigarettes or cigars are flavored. They will be compared to those who do not smoke flavored cigarettes or cigars. If available, preliminary 2005 data will also be included. Although the tobacco industry claims they are not marketing these new cigarettes and cigars to youth, it is clear that youth are smoking these products. An understanding of the youth who smoke these products will help both in the development of appropriate interventions and in countering industry claims. It will also help direct future research.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the characteristics of youth who smoke flavored cigarettes.
• Describe the characteristics of youth who smoke flavored cigars.

Keywords: Smoking, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.